Matawa First Nations news release:

KI First Nation court ruling has serious implications for the human rights of First Nations

THUNDER BAY, ON, March 24 /CNW/

The sentencing of six members of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (KI) to six months in jail has caused widespread indignation among the people of Matawa First Nations. The Chiefs of Matawa First Nations called an urgent meeting today to discuss the very serious implications of the Thunder Bay Superior Court decision and to determine the future relationship between their communities and the Province of Ontario.

"As leaders, individuals and families, the people of Matawa First Nations have been deeply offended and shocked by this week's ruling against KI," says Matawa First Nations spokesperson, Chief Arthur Moore. "This decision has been received as a clear message from the Government of Ontario that they have no respect for the First Nations people of Ontario and that they give no consideration to our lives or rights as citizens. It is a shameful time for this country on the world stage and one that will have very serious implications for future relations between government, industry and First Nations."

Matawa First Nations are pro-development communities located in Northern Ontario. They have been exploring partnerships with mining companies for economic development opportunities in their traditional territories. Earlier this month, Matawa First Nations were the only Aboriginal communities represented at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference.

"Matawa First Nations have been proactive in building relationships with mining companies wishing to undertake exploration in our traditional territories thus far," continued Chief Moore. "However, we depend on working relationships that are based on cooperation, respectful use of traditional territories and meaningful consultation with our community members related to lands and natural resources. Now that Ontario has undermined the requirement for industry to engage in a process of consultation with our First Nations, our relationships with the mining industry have been seriously jeopardized and future relationships are doubtful to occur," he says.

The First Nations foremost focus is, and has been, to secure a prosperous future for their youth and the generations to come. They want pro-active negotiations with the government to take place so that their youth are not left scarred by current events and can see a future in the mineral employment sector. Matawa First Nations' goal in this ordeal is to leave the First Nations youth with zero negative social and economic impacts.

Matawa First Nations are enormously fearful of the implications of this week's court decision. Chief Moore says; "Our community members are rightfully afraid for their lands and for the future of our families and communities. We depend on the resources of our lands everyday for food, for water, to live. We now have no protection against companies who wish to enter our territories to exploit and ruin our lands for their own economic gain. We are just like any other Ontario residents who would want to be protected or at the very least consulted about the intentions of developers entering their own backyards."

From the political perspective, the Matawa Chiefs have never supported, participated in or received funding from the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Northern Table (NAN - Ontario Bilateral Process). Matawa First Nations is however seeking a Consultation and Accommodation Protocol with Ontario so that future situations do not spiral out of control like that at K.I.

Matawa First Nations are a Tribal Council of ten communities located in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation; Aroland, Constance Lake, Eabametoong, Ginoogaming, Hornepayne, Long Lake No. 58, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibinamik, and Webequie First Nations.

For further information: Media Contact:
Stephanie Ash, Communications Officer, Matawa First Nations, Tel: (807) 767-4443, Fax: (807) 767-4479, Email: stephanie@firedogpr.com/

Primate adds his voice to support for jailed aboriginal leaders March 21, 2008

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has added his support for Northern Ontario aboriginal leaders jailed for their defence of traditional lands.

In a letter to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Archbishop Hiltz said that the jailing of the six leaders for contempt of court "has caused a serious impasse between the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the Government of Ontario, arising out of the continual imposition of the powers and values of colonizers."

The full text of the Primate's letter follows:

March 20, 2008

Premier Dalton McGuinty
Ontario Provincial Legislature
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1

I stand behind the Rt. Rev. David Ashdown, bishop of the diocese of Keewatin, which embraces the traditional native lands of the KI Nation around Trout Lake. In a letter dated March 17, 2008 Bishop Ashdown commended the Chief and Council of the KI First Nation for their commitment to the land, which is "a sacred trust which must be respected and guarded not only for those living today but for future generations as well."

I stand behind Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, himself a faithful Christian and Anglican, who noted in a recent statement on the Ontario Superior Court ruling that "the Government of Ontario is indeed above the law as the Province continues to neglect supreme court rulings to consult and accommodate First Nations prior to resource development."

I stand behind the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples and the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, who stated today in a letter to you that the jail sentence of the six KI leaders is "deeply troubling," and that the sentence "is not only a dangerous violation of Aboriginal Rights, it also contradicts a growing consensus towards the stewardship of the land on the part of all Ontario citizens."

I believe that the jail sentence of these leaders has caused a serious impasse between the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the Government of Ontario, arising out of the continual imposition of the powers and values of colonizers. It appears that Chief Morris and his council accepted Justice Smith's ruling because of an inability to continue paying the escalating legal fees for defending their suit. Now in jail, they are paying the costs with their lives.

Earlier this month, I participated with other church leaders in a tour of Aboriginal and Church Leaders, Remembering the Children, to raise the awareness of the churches and Canadian public of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be appointed by the federal government of Canada. For the healing and reconciliation that is needed to heal the harmful legacy of the Residential School system, there must be a huge commitment on the part of the churches and the federal and provincial governments of Canada to justice and self-determination for Indigenous peoples.

I appeal to your government to work diligently with the KI First Nation in the interest of a fair and just solution to the impasse, and the freeing of those who are jailed.

Please know of my thoughts and prayers as you give immediate attention to the urgent matter.

Sincerely,

[signed]

The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz
Primate

cc. The Chief and Council, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Nishnwbe Aski Nation
The Rt. Rev. David Ashdown, Bishop of Keewatin
The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Anglican Indigenous Bishop
The Ven. Dr. Sidney Black, the Rev. Gloria Moses, co-chairs, The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples


ACIP expresses solidarity with Nishnawbe Aski Nation

March 20, 2008 -- The co-chairs of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Anglican National Indigenous Bishop have written Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in protest against the jailing for contempt of court of six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwg First Nation.

The Northern Ontario aboriginal people were jailed for contempt "for their peaceful opposition to drilling for platinum on their traditional lands," the letter says. It is signed by ACIP co-chairs Archdeacon Sidney Black and the Rev. Gloria Moses, and by Bishop Mark MacDonald.

The text of the letter follows.

March 20, 2008

Premier Dalton McGuinty
Ontario Provincial Legislature,
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Dalton McGuinty,

ACIP supports Aboriginal Rights and Treaties: we walk in solidarity with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and First Nations Leaders across Canada

Amnesty International recently summarized events that are deeply troubling to us:

That on March 17th, six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwg (KI) First Nation, Chief Donny Morris, Deputy Chief Jack MacKay and four other members were sentenced to six months in jail on contempt charges for their peaceful opposition to drilling for platinum on their traditional lands. They consider it to be their responsibility to protect their lands from drilling in the Boreal Forest in northern Ontario.

Prior to this, the Ardoch Algonquins were sentenced in court for opposing uranium exploration in a part of eastern Ontario that they have never surrendered and which is currently part of the Algonquin land claim negotiations. Ardoch spokesperson Bob Lovelace was sentenced to six month detention and find $25,000. In addition, the community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000. Leaders of the neighbouring Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and non-Aboriginal supporters of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation have also been in court.

We agree with the analysis of Amnesty International, and others who have, as groups or individuals, criticized these actions. Further, we would add that the leaders have acted courageously defending the living and primal relationship of their people to the land. This relationship is regarded as a fundamental, moral and legal right by the United Nations and every major religious and ethical system known to human kind. The court's inability to recognize this primary relationship and obligation calls into question the moral credibility of our present legal system.

This action is not only a dangerous violation of Aboriginal Rights it also contradicts a growing concensus towards the stewardship of the land on the part of all Ontario citizens.

We ask that the province act before any further injustices are committed. [signed]

The Venerable Dr. Sidney Black
ACIP Co-Chair

[signed]
The Rev. Gloria Moses
ACIP Co-Chair

[signed]
The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald
National Indigenous Anglican Bishop